Council pleads guilty to health and safety charge connected with the deaths of four firefighters in Atherstone-on-Stour warehouse blaze

WARWICKSHIRE County Council has pleaded guilty to a health and safety charge in connection with the deaths of four firefighters in a warehouse fire.

The bodies of Ashley Stephens, 20 and Darren Yates-Badley, 24, who were both based at Alcester fire station and John Averis, 27, based in Stratford, were found in the burnt-out vegetable packing plant in Atherstone-on-Stour in November 2007.

A fourth fireman, Ian Reid, 44, and also based at Stratford, died later in hospital.

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At Wolverhampton Crown Court today (Friday) the authority admitted failing to ensure safety at work.

It contravened section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Chris Green, a legal representative for the council, said: “Warwickshire County Council has today entered a guilty plea to the charge it faces in connection with the Atherstone fire.

“That plea is entered on a limited basis and we should make it clear that we do not accept many of the allegations made by the prosecution.

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“We believe it is very important that we say nothing that in any way prejudices the legal proceedings about these tragic events so we will not be saying anything further except that our thoughts today are with the families and friends of all those affected by the Atherstone fire just over four years ago.”

Three fire service managers from Warwickshire have also been charged in connection with the deaths.

Station manager Timothy Woodward, 51, and watch managers Paul Simmons, 50, and Adrian Ashley, 45, are charged with manslaughter by gross negligence.

They have yet to enter any plea having appeared in court last year.

Their case was adjourned to a date yet to be set.

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The blaze, which lasted for more than 12 hours, took place in the Atherstone Industrial Estate on the evening of November 2.

Fire and ambulance crews attended the incident and the group of firefighters were in the building when the roof collapsed.

They were later reported missing, presumed dead, before all of their bodies were recovered by November 6.